January has already come to an end, and with it, a month of reading! Here are all the books I've read this month with my reviews included (spoiler free)!
Billy Summers by Stephen King (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐)
️Twisted Love (Book 1 of 4) by Ana Huang (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Lair Rising (Book 2 of 3) by David Sullivan (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐)
Twisted Games (Book 2 of 4) by Ana Huang (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Billy Summers by Stephen King (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐))
Book Summary: A killer for hire who only takes down the "bad guys," Billy Summers is finally ready to retire and wants out. He's about to accomplish that dream when a last hit finds him.
The reward is too good to be true, and despite all the red flags waving in his face, Billy takes the job. He's just hoping it will be his last.
My Review: Be still my bleeding heart
This book/genre is different from the books I've been picking up lately (mainly romance), and maybe that's why it hurts so much.
I think I would have had a different opinion if I tried to speed through this book. I would not have enjoyed it, and that is simply because this book is meant to be savored. There are heavy themes of trauma, of good vs. evil, and of redemption woven so skillfully into the story. I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. It's one of those books that leaves you feeling a bit emptier, and I think it's so fascinating whenever I encounter a story that makes me sit and think even after it's all over.
I won't say this plot is the most original one, but the story and the characters were written too gorgeously for me to care. The story starts slow and hits some major twists around 60% through. This is now one of my favorite books, at least top 5!
Twisted Love (Book 1 of 4) by Ana Huang (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Book Summary: Alex Volkov is trying to escape his past and exact revenge on those who did him wrong, but when his best friend forces him to look after their little sister, Alex's cold demeanor begins to crack.
Ava Chen does not need to be babysat, but that's exactly what happens when her brother enlists his black-hearted best friend to live next door. In a poor attempt to unearth Alex's secrets, she starts a game that begins to feel all too real.
My Review: Sweet and spicy!
The chemistry and backgrounds of Ava and Alex were beautifully done. I loved their interactions, especially in the first half of the book. They had me rooting for them! I will admit that the climax of the book seemed a little rushed, and I would've liked it to be stretched out a bit more. It did make the ending seem a bit lackluster, but overall this was a great book!
Lair Rising (Book 2 of 3) by David Sullivan (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐)
Book Summary: Aurora and Adrian have decided to stay together, and they are trying their best to do just that.
The pair both have their pasts they'd rather not dig up, but if Adrian has any chance of turning human, they must steer themselves in the right direction.
My Review: Incredibly refreshing
Adrian and Aurora are such a powerful duo it's difficult not to root for them. I’m so glad we got to see more of them and their dynamics in this sequel! I enjoyed the twist in this book (my jaw was on the floor), and the ending has me pumped for book 3!
I will say that at some point, the plot became a bit cliche, but the end brought back my intrigue and excitement for the next book in the series. I can’t wait to see how it all ends! Major major props for this refreshing and exciting concept!
Twisted Games (Book 2 of 4) by Ana Huang (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Book Summary: Bridget is just trying to be normal. As a princess, normal is not in her blood, and when her normal life is upended by an attractive new bodyguard and a job she doesn't want, things get a little more complicated
Rhys is trying to do his job as the new bodyguard, but he finds himself breaking all the rules when it comes to Bridget. As Bridget enters a new stage of her life, Rhys can't help keeping away from her.
My Review: Rhys is the standard and no one can tell me otherwise!
A secret relationship, the tension of responsibilities, all the angst that you can possibly imagine? This book is the perfect recipe of spicy and sentimental. I love men like Rhys as characters, ones who have a hard shell and a soft core. He's moody, sexy, and playful when he wants to be. I especially loved Bridget being a strong and snarky character through the book. The two made a great pair, and their personalities really shone!
Withered Rising by May Garner (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️)
Book Summary: Withered Rising is a collection of poems for those who are going through/have gone through heartbreak. May dives into the process of surviving one heartbreak to the next before finding a reason to keep going on.
My Review: This collection left me with both a space and hope in my heart.
May’s collection gets DEEP, diving into what it means to break, and the honesty of each poem is so captivating. This book as a whole is relatable, and in that relatability it leaves you aching. So well done!
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